Dirkmonster

NBC's Tim Russert suddenly dies

If you're a news junky like I am, you're shocked and unspeakably saddened by the sudden death of Tim Russert, NBC News' Washington Bureau Chief and host of Meet the Press.

I'm watching his colleagues remember him as a person and a newsman and am so impressed that he was clearly as quality a human being as he was a journalist.  For me, Tim Russert has been THE journalist of my adult life.

I've been so excited about the presidential campaigns this year and Tim Russert was the play by play voice of the race.  Incredibly, it's not going to mean as much to me without Russert's Meet the Press and his omnipresence on NBC's political coverage.

My heart goes out to his family, friends and his colleagues at NBC.  There are millions of fans out there who have real shock and grief over this.  You never realize how much people mean to you until they're just gone.

WWII MIA Tennessean ID'd

I came across a release from the Department of Defense that amazed me.  The remains of a WWII Sailor from Newcomb, TN (E TN) have been identified and are being returned to his family.

He is Seaman 1^st Class General P. Douglas, U.S. Navy, of Newcomb, Tenn. He will be buried Jan. 26 in Sneedville, Tenn.

On July 6, 1943, the light cruiser “USS Helena" was struck by torpedoes fired by Japanese destroyers off the coast of Kolombangara Island, Solomon Islands, in what would become known as the Battle of the Kula Gulf. More than 700 servicemen were rescued, but Douglas was one of more than 150 servicemen who were missing as the ship sunk.

I wonder what his family must be feeling after more than 64 years without closure.  What a story to tell his decendants.  Read the rest of the story. 

Overheard in the Storm

This is one of those winter rains you get in Nashville that go on for three days cause all sorts of floods.  This is the kind of rainstorm in which you'll find out where your house is weakest.  This is the kind of storm that interrupts prime time programming to talk about flash flood warnings in 26 TN and KY counties.  And to hear these dire predictions you'll need to turn the TV up since the downpour on the skylight windows drowns everything else out.

Overheard during a time like this:

"And please, for the love of dry pants, beware of the standing water."

"Be careful out there as you make your way to work this morning."

"If you live in a trailer next to a creek, you'll soon be living in a trailer in Arkansas."

"Just be glad it isn't 20 degrees cooler - this would all be snow and Nashville would be wiped off the face of the earth."

"Al Gore says 'I told you so'!" GLOBAL WARMING IS TO BLAME.

"Isn't el Nino grown up by now?"

"I can't come to work because of seasonal affective disorder."

And it just keeps on pouring...

Pluto back to being just a cartoon dog

According to a CNN breaking news bulletin this morning:

Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

I'm not sure how this affects my life. Maybe someone out there can explain.  I did chuckle at another portion of the CNN story that read (my emphasis added):

Pluto is no stranger to controversy. In fact, it's been dogged by disputes ever since its discovery.  (Watch why some think planet size doesn't matter -- 3:39)

Wow. A pun and a mixed metaphor in one sentence.

Stay tuned for details.  Maybe another astronomer will call "bullshit" and we can get back to the universe we've all come to know and love.

Give water today to someone in need

I encourage everyone who has thought about how hot it is today to read homeless guy's post about what you can do to help.

We found a large group of men gathered outside the Rescue Mission in an enclosed concrete courtyard. There appeared to be some shelter within the walls that offered a little bit of shade.  Others were standing near interstate ramps or trying to sleep on bus benches.

Matthew 25: 35-36
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'